Pages

Tuesday, March 24

So We Begin Again...

I’m in that weird place in a writer’s life—the one where I’ve
just released a new novel and I’m beginning another one.

The new release is out there, selling okay and getting some
nice accolades. I’m doing promotion—sending it to reviewers, tweeting it, and
no doubt annoying my Facebook friends with posts about The Summer of Second Chances. See what I just did there? I snuck in a link
to the new book. Promotion. What can I say?

So now that the new-release flurry is cooling off, it’s time
to get busy on the next Women of Willow Bay
story… See there? I did it again. Apparently, I’m in the promo zone, eh?
Anyway, I’ve started the new book. It’s brewing in my head, but this one
requires notes, timelines, and some level of plotting. I’m working on it. And
there are others, truly. Notes on my phone, ideas jotted in my knitting
notebook, on the phone pads, and even on the backs of envelopes and take-out
menus.

But here’s the thing. A part of me simply wants to sit and
vegetate. Knit, read, binge-watch Netflix, or even take long walks and bike
rides. Anything but sit in front of my computer screen and write. It’s not
about lack of motivation or a case of writer’s block—I’m not blocked. Mostly,
it’s just that I’m tired of thinking. I need to be mindless for a few days;
have some time away from the demands of writing and editing.

So here’s the plan—yeah, if you’re me, there’s always a
plan, even for goofing off. For the next seven days, I’m going to set aside
writing and editing (oh, and worrying about editing). I’m going to read, watch
movies, go the gym with Sister, spend time with Husband, and have lunch with
some freelancer buddies. I think I’ll take in that new exhibit at the History Center
downtown and maybe binge-watch some more of Damages.
I’ll start my spring-cleaning and spend a day with Dee at chemo.

Through all of this non-writing, I will be absorbing life,
absorbing narrative, letting stories develop in my subconscious. Hopefully, I’ll
come back refreshed, clearer, and more than ready to tell Sarah Everett’s story
(she’s the next Woman of Will Bay—remember her from Sex
and the Widow Miles?). Dang! I did it again, didn’t I? Well, since we’re
here—Sex
and the Widow Miles is only 99 cents right now… just sayin'...

How about it, writers? Do you ever need to just walk away
from the keyboard for a bit and take a writing break? Talk to me.

Enjoy your time, Nan! I think sometimes stepping away is exactly what we have to do...my RWA chapter calls it 'refilling the well'. There are times we have to take to just be ourselves and not Ourselves The Writer..and I'm guilty of not doing that enough.

I think when I send one on its merry way, I need to time to shift gears. That's something non-writers don't understand. Everyone takes that shift differently. For some walking away from the computer for a few days is enough. I just know my mind needs the muse to do some housekeeping and physically my house needs a good cleaning.

Whatever it takes for a transition... To me, that interim tends to be a very productive time. And I when I get back to writing, it's a good thing.

I had the last two days off and barely touched my computer or my pad of paper. Yesterday, I worked on the puzzle that's been sitting on my table for the past three weeks or so. Sometimes I think we just need to "be"